UW faculty members appointed to Pew Health Professions Commission

University of Washington faculty members Ruth Ballweg and Dr. Mimi Fields have been named to the third phase of the Pew Health Professions Commission ‹ a national commission charged with identifying new training and funding avenues for the health care profession.
Ballweg is director of the UW MEDEX Northwest program for physician assistant training. A leader in regional and national physician assistant professional organizations, she is a former president of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs and of the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants. For the past year, she has chaired the Pew Commission’s Task Force on Physician Assistants in Managed Care.

Fields is assistant dean for public health practice in the University of Washington faculty members Ruth Ballweg and Dr. Mimi Fields have been named to the third phase of the Pew Health Professions Commission ‹ a national commission charged with identifying new training and funding avenues for the health care profession.
Ballweg is director of the UW MEDEX Northwest program for physician assistant training. A leader in regional and national physician assistant professional organizations, she is a former president of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs and of the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants. For the past year, she has chaired the Pew Commission’s Task Force on Physician Assistants in Managed Care.

Fields is assistant dean for public health practice in the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine and also serves as deputy secretary and state health officer at the Washington State Department of Health. She has directed preventive medicine services and training of health care providers for the U.S. Army and has also directed the Washington State Office on HIV/AIDS.

The Pew Health Professions Commission, which in 1995 recommended closing one-fifth of the nation’s medical schools, was restructured to build on recommendations in past reports. The third phase of the Pew Commission will begin meeting later this month.

Former Sen. George Mitchell of Maine, who was Senate majority leader from 1988 to 1996, will chair the 14-member group.
UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine and also serves as deputy secretary and state health officer at the Washington State Department of Health. She has directed preventive medicine services and training of health care providers for the U.S. Army and has also directed the Washington State Office on HIV/AIDS.

The Pew Health Professions Commission, which in 1995 recommended closing one-fifth of the nation’s medical schools, was restructured to build on recommendations in past reports. The third phase of the Pew Commission will begin meeting later this month.

Former Sen. George Mitchell of Maine, who was Senate majority leader from 1988 to 1996, will chair the 14-member group.